The study examined Xanthomonas strains causing bacterial spot on tomato in Oklahoma fields during 2018‑2019, revealing a shift from X. euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria (Xee) to X. euvesicatoria pv. perforans (Xep) race T4, which also expanded to pepper. Phenotypic assays and whole‑genome sequencing highlighted differences in race composition, host range, copper sensitivity, and effector repertoires, and identified a novel species, Xanthomonas oklahomensis.

The authors conducted a comprehensive phylogenetic and sequence analysis of the conserved YUCCA (YUC) gene family across representative plant lineages, classifying the family into six major classes and 41 subclasses. They linked YUC diversification to protein sequence conservation and spatial/temporal gene expression patterns, providing a framework for future functional investigations of auxin biosynthesis.

The study analyzes ancient maize genomes from a 500–600 BP Bolivian offering and compares them with 16 archaeological samples spanning 5,000 years and 226 modern Zea mays lines, revealing close genetic affinity to ancient Peruvian maize and increased diversity during Inca‑local interactions. Phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses of ovule development indicate targeted breeding for seed quality and yield, suggesting culturally driven selection was already established by the 15th century CE.

Using a barley pangenome of 76 genotypes and a pan‑transcriptome subset of 20, the study characterizes the diversity and evolutionary dynamics of CCT motif genes, uncovering novel frameshift variants and clade‑specific domain expansions. Phylogenetic and tissue‑specific expression analyses reveal functional divergence among paralogs, and the unexpected retention of the VRN2 repressor in spring barley suggests additional regulatory mechanisms beyond vernalization.

Phylogenetic analysis reveals that non‑seed plants, exemplified by the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, possess a streamlined repertoire of cyclin and CDK genes, with only three cyclins active in a phase‑specific manner during vegetative development. Single‑cell RNA‑seq and fluorescent reporter assays, combined with functional overexpression studies, demonstrate the distinct, non‑redundant roles of MpCYCD;1, MpCYCA, and MpCYCB;1 in G1 entry, S‑phase progression, and G2/M transition, respectively.

The study characterizes all seven malic enzyme genes in tomato, analyzing their tissue-specific expression, temperature and ethylene responsiveness, and linking specific isoforms to metabolic processes such as starch and lipid biosynthesis during fruit development. Phylogenetic, synteny, recombinant protein biochemical assays, and promoter analyses were used to compare tomato enzymes with Arabidopsis counterparts, revealing complex evolutionary dynamics that decouple phylogeny from functional orthology.

The study sampled 94 individuals from eight Atlantic Forest populations to assess morphological and genetic variation among Inga subnuda subspecies and the related Inga vera subsp. affinis. Using plastid trnD‑trnT spacer and nuclear ITS1/2 sequences, phylogenetic analyses revealed distinct structuring of I. subnuda subsp. subnuda and a cohesive group comprising I. subnuda subsp. luschnathiana and I. vera subsp. affinis, indicating retention of ancestral polymorphism from recent diversification and prompting a taxonomic revision of subsp. luschnathiana.

The study examined transcriptomic responses of the tropical seagrass Halophila stipulacea from a pristine and an impacted site under single and combined thermal and excess nutrient stress in mesocosms. Combined stress caused greater gene reprogramming than individual stresses, with thermal effects dominating and the impacted population showing reduced plasticity but higher resilience. Core stress‑response genes were identified as potential early field indicators of environmental stress.